Electric radiator.



'J. B. KIBBY. ELECTRIC RADIATOR. APPLICATION FILED JAN-Z6, I912.

Patented May 9,1916.

2 SHEET SSHE'ET 1.

IImvrz NTQR ATTEsT i 718% W M B 8% M m w J. B. KIRBY. ELECTRIC RADIATOR. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26. 1912.

Patented May 9, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

//v VENTO I? JzmesB.Hzrb BY 1Q? Ti di' JAMES B. KIRIBY, F CLEVELAND, OHIQ.

ELECTRIC RADIATOR.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES B. KIRBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Radiators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric radiators, and the primaryobject of the invention is to provide an eflicient heat radiator adapted to be electrically operated with the maximum of safety and at a low cost.

The invention, therefore, embodies, among other things, an electric heater particularly designed to quickly vaporize a fluid with the use of a minimum amount of electric-current, and also includes means to cut 01f the electric-current when predetermined maximum vapor-pressures are reached. With my invention, difl'erent heating effects may be obtained and excessive or dangerous pressures prevented. The invention also embraces means to cut off the eleotric-current when predetermined fluid levels are reached, and particularly before the falling fluid can possibly uncover the heating coils, thereby preventing injury to the heating coils which are especially constructed to give the best vaporizing results when completely immersed in the fluid and which coils would otherwise .fuse or burn out when exposed. Therefore, the quantity of fluid .in the radiator mayvary greatly and still transform the energy of the electric-current into heat in a safe and eflicient manner, and inpoint of fact the quantity of fluid is always in excess of actual generating needs.

The invention also includes means stantly maintain a limited quantity of liquid in the generating chamber about the heat ing coils in order that generation of vapor may be quickly obtained without a prolonged use of electric-current.

The invention also comprises means to produce intermittent operations of the 1 heater'in an automatic manner for varying periods of time which may be regulated at will, and whereby difl'erent heating effects and different vapor pressures may be obtained to meet atmospheric changes.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation and sectional'view of a radiator showing my invention incorporated therewith. Fig. 2 is a side elevationand sectional view of a radlator modified 1n varlous Specification of Letters Patent.

to con-' Patented May 9, 1916.

Application filed January 26, 1912. Serial No. 673,552.

particulars as compared with Fig. 1 and showing a float-controlled valve for the fluid intake of the generating chamber. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the heating device taken on line 33, Fig. 1.

The invention in detail comprises a radiator 2, either built in sections as shown, or'

constructed in any suitable-way to provide a fluid and vapor chamber or chambers 3; the fluid, such as water, being contained within the bottom of said chamber or chambers. The quantity of fluid contained in the radiator is preferably in excess of actual generating needs, the excess forming a reserve supply to cover'loss by evaporation and withdrawals, although other advantages accrue. In my invention, it is not essential that the quantity of fluid shall remain constant nor that the vaporizing space or spaces shall bear any definitely-fixed proportion to the fluid space or spaces. In fact my object is to provide a radiator in which an ample supply of fluid may be stored so that as it v is dissipated in the natural course of events no material variation 1n results will be noted in'the radiator itself. Moreover, the supply of fluid may be so greatly in excess of the natural requirements for heating purposes that the hot fluid may even be withdrawn in part from the radiator without materially aflecting its operation as a heater, and if desired, the radiator may be directly connected by pipes with a source of fluid supply. My-

aim also is to obtain maximum heatlng effects by generating vapor at about five pounds of pressure or at any desired pressure within safe limits.

The means to generate the vapor and the devices to safe-guard against excessive pressures and prevent complete evaporation of the fluid are contained within a separate receptacle 4 attached to radiator 2 at one .end, top and bottom, by suitable screw conhections 5 and 6, respectively.

The lower connection 6 is an integral projection of receptacle 4 having a very small opening or cross passage 7 through the vertical wall thereof near its bottom to provide a fluid.

intake for the receptacle. Opening 7 is either very small or provided with a valve V to restrict or regulatethe flow of fluid from the mainsupply in the radiator to the receptacle, and the amount of fluid permitted topass may be limited in varying degrees, drop by drop if desired, so that refilling of the receptacle may proceed very give quick 30 slowly as compared to the dissipation of the fluid by the boiling and generating action. Thus, generation of vapors may occur in the receptacle without waiting for the entire body of water in the radiator to come to a boiling point. In some instances, passage 7 may also be provided with a valve 8 having a float controllO as shown in Fig. 2, so that a limited depth of fluid may always be positively maintained in receptacle. 4, totally regardless of the quantity of water in the separate chamber 9 which is shown in open communication -with the condensing space or spaces 3 in this figure. Further-.

more, valves V and 8 may be used either.

alone or together. In any event, the, depth of the fluid in receptacle 4 is fixed so that the heating device 12, shown as a coil, will always be submerged, particularly as the said device is especially constructed of very fine wire, in some instances as small as forty gage being used, to obtain maximum heating efl'ects. Protecting the heating coil by immersion permits safe carrying of an electrio-current which would otherwise heat the coil to a white heat and fuse or burn it out,

if not so protected.

Briefly this heating coil is designed to and eflicient heating with a small amount of electric-current and to this end the wire is directly exposed to the fluid, although preferably coated with a thin enamel having heat-conducting and electrical nonconducting properties. As shown, this coil 12 is mountedunder spring tension upon a central stem 14 secured to an insulated mounting 15 centrally located upon screw cap 16 which is removably supported within J the tubular side extension 17 of receptacle 4, see Fig. 3. One terminal of the coil exj tends through stem 14 and the other terminal 18 extends through cap 16, both bemg insulated therefrom. The electric-current for heating coil 12 may be furnished by a plug connection from any source of supply, such as an electric-lamp socket, and 1f desired a thermostat 19 of-any suitable type may be placed in the line of connections to automatically control the operation of the radiator according to the needs thencof inany roomor given place of use. Outside of this however, the interval of time during which the electric-current is designed to pass through the heating coil 12 }is subject to local conditions within the radiator itself, such as the degree of pressure and also-the depth of water. 1 v

Thus, it will be noted that a flexible diaphragm 20 is exposed to the vapor or presand hat a spring or snap switch 21 "is mounted within the tubular side extension 22 of receptacle 4 opposite said diaphragm 20. Switch 21 has a headed stem 23 slidably engaged within the tubular bore of a surgpace in the upper end of receptacle 4,

contact piece 27, thereby effecting a snap action to quickly break contact. relations between the parts when diaphragm 20 is acted upon to bring its projection 28 forcibly against switch 21. A wire 30 connects switch 21 with the terminal post 31 of heating coil 12 and a separate wire 32 leads from contact 27 to the line connection or to a switch 33 therein. Both wires 30 and 32 pass through a tube 34 openly connecting the extensions 17 and 22.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that switch 21 will be opened and the electriccurrent cut off when the generated vapor within receptacle 4 exceeds predetermined maximumpressures as fixed by regulating device 24. Control of the pressure gives control of heating effects, simply by rotating handle 24 to relieve or lessen the tension or pressure ofspring 25 upon the switch 21.

Thus, if the electric-current is to be cut off,

say prematurely when a vapor pressure of two pounds is reached in receptacle 4 with its corresponding degree in heating energy in the radiator, the same may be obtained by setting andregulating the handle 24 to produce this result. If desired, a gage may be used to indicate the position of the handle for different pressures.

The flexing of diaphragm 20 and opening of switch 21 is also subject to other conditions-within the radiator entirely separate from that of the pressure incident to vaporization. Briefly, this involves the lowering of the fluid level within receptacle 4. Constant change in fluid level of course occurs in maintaining heating conditions, but sooner or later the lowest maximum level consistent with safety, is reached, either by loss of evaporation if pet cock 35 is opened or by withdrawal of the fluid through valve 36, see Fig. 1. The passing of electric-cur. rent through heating coil 12, if uncovered,

switch 21 is open no such ill-eflects could possibly follow. To this end I pivot a bellcrank 37 within the upper portion of the receptacle 4 opposite diaphragm 20 and connect its shorter arm to the diaphragm by link 38 or by any other suitable connection. The longer arm of the bell. crank 37 is either of ring shape or bifurcated at its end to -would destroy said coil, but obviously if come into free-working relations with rod 39 of displacement float 40, so that as the fluid level recedes, 39 will contact with the bell crank 37 and throw out switch 21, float 40 having suflicient weight to accomplish this result. ,A nut 42 on the upper end of threaded rod 39 limits the downward movement of float 40 by contacting with the flange 43 of cap 44 screwed within the top of receptacle 4. Both the nuts 41 and 42 are adjustable to change the range of movement of the float and to fix diflerent fluid levels.

Float 40 is expressly constructed to practically fill the chamber and thereby displace a large amount of fluid, the object being to expose the least quantity of fluid to the heating coils as possible, so that rapid boiling and vaporization will occur.

Nut 41 limits the upward movement of float 40 and the float may be entirely submerged. In fact the fluid level as shown in the drawing is above the line where the float is normally buoyant and the fluid may recede considerably without a downward movement of the float. However, when the fluid recedes sufficiently to affect the float, the switch 21 will eventually be thrown out and theelectric current cut off from the heatingcoil until either condensation raises thelevel of the fluid or a new supply of fluid is furnished through connection 5 which is subdivided by a perforated wall 45 to divert the said supply from vapor outlet pipe 46 of receptacle 4. Filling may proceed when screw cap 47 is removed.

Spring 25 will close switch 21 when the resistance upon the diaphragm from within the receptacle 4 is overcome; but the interval of time in which the electric current is cut off, is or may be varied, by setting handle 24 and changing the tension of spring 25. -With a float 40 and intervening mechanism to forcibly open switch 21, it 1s obvious that the electric circuit will remain oil until the fluid rises over the electric heater and the float is raised sufficiently to withdraw pressure on the said switch and permit it to close'the circuit. This insures the safety of the heater when it is not protected by the fluid. It is also apparent in Fig. 3 that when handle 24 is rotated to move outwardly, that the headed stem 22 will be ena thumbnut 41 on rod I gaged to open switch 21, thereby eliminating the need of the separate switch 33.

What I claim is:

1. A radiator containing a quantity of fluid in excess of vapor-generating needs, an electric heating device submerged in said fluid, a source of electric-current for said device, means subject to vapor pressure to control heating operations of said device, and, means to cut oil the electric-current upon a lowerin of the fluid level within predetermined llmits.

L 2. A radiator chamber containing a fluid and having a vapor generating chamber provided with a valved intake to regulate the passing of the fluid therebetween, an electric heater submerged in the fluid, and means to establish electric-current connectiolns for said heater at intermittent interva s.

3. A chambered radiator having a generating chamber provided with an electric heater immersed in a fluid contained therein, said generating chamber having vapor communication with said radiator at the top and provided with a restricted intake at the bottom to cause the passage of said fluid between the chambers to proceed in slower degree than the generation of the fluid into vapor.

4. A radiator containing a fluid, an electric heater in heat-conducting relation with said fluid and means to control the electriccurrent supply for said heater comprising a switch and operating members therefor subject to both the generated pressure and the lowering of the fluid level incident to vaporization and other causes.

5. A radiator having a sub-divided fluid chamber and one of said sub-divisions serving as a source of fluid supply and the other as a vapor-generating chamber, a valve controlled passage between said sub-divisions, an electric heater in said vapor generating portion, and means to maintain sufficient fluid about said heater to submerge the same.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES B. KIRBY.

Witnesses:

R. B. MOSER, F. G. MUSSUN. 

